Hoboken Bar & Grill
20
March
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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3/20/2009 Update:
Myself and a Hoboken411 reader swung by Hoboken Bar and Grill earlier in the month for a quick bite to eat. Since it was over two weeks ago, this review will be just as quick, 411 “bullet point style!”
See the rest of the review after the jump…
Hoboken Bar and Grill – first impressions
Brief Details
- Time: Weekday late lunch around 3pm.
- Restaurant: Empty with the exception of a few people at the bar.
- Staff: About half a dozen on hand. Hostess, a few waiters, waitresses and a bartender.
- Decor: Better than previous iterations, seating area essentially the same, bar much improved.
- Seating: Comfortable enough for a big guy.
- Bathrooms: Didn’t have to go.
See the rest of the mini-review after the jump…
(Hoboken Bar & Grill, continued…)
More first impressions
Food
- Appetizer – Chicken Quesadilla: Reader: Tortilla flaky, warm. Chicken not overcooked. Good mexican seasoning. Sour cream drizzled – good presentation. One of the best quesadillas she’s had in recent memory. Hoboken411: Very good, but not great. I didn’t like the drizzled sour cream, but probably better for my waistline. Bottled salsa not impressive. Fairly filling. Probably a reliable appetizer to order again.
- Entree #1 – Steak & Cheese Sandwich: Reader: Good bread, soft – with a touch of olive oil. Steak strips tender and moist. Cheddar, onions & mushrooms, delicious additions. Chipotle Mayo pulled it all together. Really enjoyed it! Hoboken411: I just had one bite – and felt it was bland and oily.. the bread was good. Probably not a good “statistical sample” so don’t take my word on it.
- Entree #2 – Bacon Swiss Burger: Hoboken411: Felt the burger was OK, but just average. Unless they change the meat supplier, I’ll never order this again. Everything else was of acceptable quality level – the fries had a unique taste – like boardwalk french fries… while interesting in a “gimmicky” sort of way – I believe I’d get sick of them after a while (again, probably good for waistline.) Bottom line – burger was average, and not deserved of a letter home to mom. (Reader didn’t taste this – but liked the fries)
Service / Cost:
- Reader was impressed with the staff. I thought they did what they were supposed to do, without anything to complain about. Then again, I had my back to them the whole time, so I cannot gauge the big picture – and it was empty, so I cannot vouch how they perform at peak times.
- Bonus: They did ask us to fill out a survey of the restaurant and staff – which leads you to believe that they care what their customers think – a nice touch.
- Total bill was around 30 bucks plus tip. Probably a smidge on the high side for a lunch – maybe they should have different menus?
Overall Impressions:
Reader was much more elated than I was – she liked practically everything top to bottom. I’d have to say my viewpoint at this time is “inconclusive” – but while nothing knocked my socks off – I can happily say that nothing made me disgusted either – that’s not a shabby place to be.
Next visit will be to have a few drinks at the bar and see how that “vibe” is.
Anyone else try it yet?
12/8/2008:
Rodeo, Ristra, Privee, Mercy Grill – and now “Hoboken Bar & Grill.”
Will it succeed?
This infamous location at 230 Washington Street (next to the filthy McDonald’s) has long been home to eventually doomed establishments. I can’t figure out whether it was the awful layout of the place (tiny bar – ill-placed stairs, etc.), or just plain haunted in general.
However, new owners Paul Valenzano and Mike Citarella hope to succeed with the new bar / restaurant.
Hoping to open up in the beginning of 2009, Hoboken Bar & Grill will lose the pretentious “lounge” like atmosphere and become a basic bar/tavern with simple American appetizers and entrees. One thing that may help them last longer is the fact that they’re expanding the bar and adding over a dozen flat-panel televisions.
The business partners also run a place called Rock Cellar in West Orange, NJ – which seems like a fun place to hang out if you judge by the photo galleries on their website… (of course you need fun people to attend your place, too).
If they can offer a decent atmosphere, non budget-busting food and drink (tasty and well-portioned), it’s quite possible they might stand a chance.
Only time will tell…
Description:Bar / Tavern / Restaurant
Services: Restaurant, Bar, live events, outdoor seating
Address: 230 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Website: www.hobokenbarandgrill.com
Telephone: TBD
May 15th 2009 - 15:38:47 |
i agree with mcspacebar, why does every bar owner in this town think that he needs to put in so many TV’s? ok, if you are a sports bar, and you are paying for the full commmercial price for 500 channels then by all means recoup your investment and best luck to you. but restaurants that have bars and smaller places really don’t need so many tv’s going…wait, can anyone explain to me wht that idiot that runs Buskers has 1/2 dozen TV’s in the windows pointing at the street? is there any way the city can save him (and us) from himself, and tell him to get them out of the windows?
that is one reason why it’s so different to stop for a beer at mario’s…he has one TV and it is usually turned off. of course after one beer you have to leave due to the smell but it’s a relaxing one beer. when i walk into a place after work and see 10 people parked iin front of 5-10 retina searing HD multi-media presentations, while they text away to multiple friends, while trying to have a conversation with a person sitting next to them, and get a buzz on at the same time it becomes all too clear why attention spans have dropped to a mere few seconds for most of the x-gens in this country. do you people text to people when you are in the same room with them ?
In response to mcspacebar who said:
I dont even want them in a bar necessarily.
Is every bar a “sports Bar” now???
maybe I just want to drink and interact with the other clientele and the bartender, you know, without the need for televised sporting events to “bring us together”.
hmmm. maybe this should be in the Rants thread….
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July 6th 2009 - 12:10:24 |
Can anyone explain to me why it was that Hoboken Bar and Grill turned our business away, yesterday? We were a party of five and they had enough space outdoors for us. Only three little tables were occupied outside. And we’re not a rowdy group or anything like that.
One of us entered the establishment to ask for a table. And the manager sent back a message along the lines of “we don’t serve parties of five”.
Shame. Guess they won’t be serving my party of two, three or four in the future, either.
We went to Mikie Squared for brunch, instead. And their staff was great.
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July 6th 2009 - 12:41:04 |
That’s the recipe for Doomnation!
PS – Party of Five was a great show
In response to mooshu who said:
One of us entered the establishment to ask for a table. And the manager sent back a message along the lines of “we don’t serve parties of five”.
Shame. Guess they won’t be serving my party of two, three or four in the future, either.
We went to Mikie Squared for brunch, instead. And their staff was great.
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July 6th 2009 - 13:17:57 |
that makes so little sense – 5 is a fairly average dinner group, no? i would have talked to the manager just to hear him explain his logic – i wouldn’t have stayed but i would have loved to hear that policy
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July 6th 2009 - 13:51:54 |
Something similar happened to me at the Quays once, and I never went back. I don’t understand some these staff that turn down business. I guarantee if the owner was there, you would have been served.
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July 6th 2009 - 15:03:54 |
I have eaten here before with groups larger than 5 both inside and outside. i think this was a mis communication some where and not normal business practice
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July 6th 2009 - 16:17:05 |
Sorry that happened. I wish I knew why. That’s very odd. It’s a stupid move. It’s incredibly bad business.
In response to mooshu who said:
One of us entered the establishment to ask for a table. And the manager sent back a message along the lines of “we don’t serve parties of five”.
Shame. Guess they won’t be serving my party of two, three or four in the future, either.
We went to Mikie Squared for brunch, instead. And their staff was great.
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July 6th 2009 - 19:52:16 |
Does it have anything to do with you dancing on the bar,semi nude, last time you were in there?
In response to mooshu who said:
One of us entered the establishment to ask for a table. And the manager sent back a message along the lines of “we don’t serve parties of five”.
Shame. Guess they won’t be serving my party of two, three or four in the future, either.
We went to Mikie Squared for brunch, instead. And their staff was great.
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July 7th 2009 - 00:16:08 |
Nope. My husband was told this by both a member of the waitstaff and (surprisingly) the manager. And, believe me, he questions everything.
“We don’t serve a party of five”.
Very well, then. I guess you won’t earn funds plus a generous tip from a party of five either.
We were looking forward to their brunch, too.
Sigh. Disappointing.
In response to hobokenj who said:
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July 7th 2009 - 00:17:40 |
Never watched it but am sure it was great
.
In response to jc5201 who said:
PS – Party of Five was a great show
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August 2nd 2009 - 11:55:32 |
Does not sound right. That place is not like that. I have been there plenty of times with my family plus a stroller. Go in and make sure your talking to the actual managers not a waitress or waiter. That place is great and we go back all the time.
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August 10th 2009 - 13:32:03 |
Um, actually, that place was “like that”. My husband spoke with both a waitress and the manager at the time. Probably the hostess, too. And I doubt that the either of them were disguised as a waitress, hostess and manager.
Anyway, a month has gone by, and time has made the customer service better. Although we originally had no intention of returning to this place, we decided to give Hoboken Bar and Grill a second chance.
The service was great. Our server (a young dude) was really nice. And the stuffed French Toast and omelette were damn good.
Also have to add that the Brunch menu prices were decent. As in, unlike restaurants that charge $2-3 for a side of bacon, a few strips are included in, say, a pancake order.
We’ll have to try going there with a party of five, again. See what happens.
In response to boohoohobo who said:
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August 23rd 2009 - 11:45:21 |
This place was slammin on Friday at around 7pm (must have been the Yanks vs. Sox game). But we passed a lot of other bars that were empty – this place was packed to the gills. May have some staying power….did not try the food, but they have a cool ‘beer club’ deal, ask the bartender.
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October 1st 2009 - 15:27:17 |
just to comment out of the blue…had a great time for the football games this past sunday! the bartenders actually do buy backs! HOORAH!!! and $2 bud, bud light pints is an awesome deal! bar food is great too! screw you 4L’s and mcswiggans, you can keep your expensive drinks, horrible bartenders who don’t do buybacks, and out of town morons for yourselves!
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October 1st 2009 - 16:07:25 |
blaueaugen: 4Ls has expensive drinks? I think they’re really affordable and they have a great selection.
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December 28th 2009 - 12:25:22 |
I have never written a review before, but felt that the service I received was so horrible that it warranted this review mostly to warn others. I planned a special party at the Hoboken bar and grill 2 months ago, reserving the downstairs space. I signed a contract and paid a $200 non refundable deposit. The invitations went out and I had over 60 people confirmed. 2 weeks before my event, the owner called to say he was “double booked” and did not honor my contract causing me to scramble to find another location. BE CAREFUL BEFORE BOOKING HERE as he’ll give away your reservation to the highest bidder. The entire time I dealt with the owner, Mike, he acted like he was doing me a favor by allowing me to bring 60 people to his establishment- what poor customer service!!!
In response to strand tramp who said:
that is one reason why it’s so different to stop for a beer at mario’s…he has one TV and it is usually turned off. of course after one beer you have to leave due to the smell but it’s a relaxing one beer. when i walk into a place after work and see 10 people parked iin front of 5-10 retina searing HD multi-media presentations, while they text away to multiple friends, while trying to have a conversation with a person sitting next to them, and get a buzz on at the same time it becomes all too clear why attention spans have dropped to a mere few seconds for most of the x-gens in this country. do you people text to people when you are in the same room with them ?
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December 28th 2009 - 12:43:54 |
The owner turned my business away too!
In response to escaped68 who said:
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December 28th 2009 - 12:58:59 |
Try renting 2nd floor of Teak
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March 16th 2010 - 12:01:45 |
the food was great, a little pricey but well worth it, but the service sucked. I had michelle as a waitress and she was HORRIBLE. she took forever to get our drink order, she brought the wrong meal, and she spent way too much time talking to other employees. i’d love to go back but she single-handedly ruined my experience.
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